Jack Steven leads St Kilda to a fighting 25-point win over Brisbane

THERE were plenty of questions levelled at St Kilda over the off-season about the club’s list and general direction. After Saturday’s win over Brisbane, how many have the Saints answered?

THE questions levelled at St Kilda over summer contained some spice.

Do the Saints have any A-graders? Where will the improvement come from? Does a seventh consecutive season outside the top eight await?

When the Saints trailed wooden-spooner Brisbane Lions by eight points halfway through the third quarter on Saturday, the temperature under the Etihad Stadium roof was rising with every possession.

GAME RECAP: HOW THE SAINTS DEFEATED BRISBANE

The Lions had booted six of the past eight goals and converted a 19-point deficit into panic stations for the Saints.

No. 1 pick Cameron Rayner curled through his first AFL goal with Dustin Martin-type strength before Tom Bell won the following centre clearance, ran forward, marked and added another.

Jarrod Berry’s ball use was brilliant while Hugh McCluggage was able to find space with his calm movement in traffic.

Ruckman Stefan Martin was beating ex-Lion Billy Longer and while Koby Stevens blanketed Dayne Zorko, the Lions were in control of the clearances.

Jack Steven was at his brilliant best on Saturday. Picture: AAP Images

Ex-Hawk Luke Hodge played with an erect arm as he directed backline traffic and ex-Crow Charlie Cameron had curled through three goals with his forward pressure adding a sharper edge to the attack.

The Saints looked pedestrian and the Lions were penetrating. The game belonged to the visitors.

Who would stand up for the Saints, a club which has produced just one All-Australian (Nick Riewoldt in 2014) in the past six years?

Who would make a Round 1 statement?

Jack Steven (34 disposals) was the man. One of few explosive midfielders at the Saints, Steven charged to the ball at half-forward and blasted through the Saints’ 10th goal.

Steven’s second goal in as many minutes delivered a 10-point cushion at the last change. Finally, there was a spark, and probably some bark from coach Alan Richardson.

Alan Richardson talks to his players during the three quarter time break. Picture: Getty Images

A last-quarter blitz turned a fright into an all right start to the season and gave their fans a more relaxed look at the frenetic new ball movement.

Troubled by inaccuracy last season, St Kilda’s first five goals on Saturday were all booted from within 20m.

Paddy McCartin, Hunter Clark, Jade Gresham and Jack Billings all gobbled up easy goals as the Saints opened their forward line like a packet of chips.

An angle-cutting kick from Blake Acres, a long bomb from Seb Ross and a smart Billings handball all set up certain majors in the first quarter.

By the end of the 25-point win the Saints had slotted 6.1 (37) to 0.0 (0) from within 15m.

Tim Membrey missed the memo, with the usual sharpshooter’s first three shots all squirting through the behinds.

But Membrey made amends with a last-quarter goal from the pocket and added another as the Saints stormed clear.

Tim Membrey bounced back from a tough day with a last term goal. Picture: Getty Images

The patches of pulsating ball movement looks like a redesign of the Saints’ style, and it is well-suited to the fast Etihad Stadium track.

The Saints have now won six of their past seven games at home and play another 12 there this season.

When they are hot they will be hard to stop.

VOTES

3. Jack Steven (St K)

2. Blake Acres (St K)

1. Jack Billings (St K)

ST KILDA: Steven, Acres, Billings, Ross, Newnes, Koby Stevens, Gresham

BRISBANE LIONS: Martin, Berry, Beams, Robertson, Taylor